Automobile body and method of constructing a body



Nov. 18, 1930.

R. CALPIN AUTOMOBILE BODY AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A BODY 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet, l

Filed Sepb.

I I Wvewio? BOgZMZi/d Uaipim R. CALPIN Nov. 18, 1930.

AUTOMOBILE BODY AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A BODY 3 Sheets-Sheet,

Filed Sept. 1'? 1928 IW/veni/o Raymond. CaZga v Mw? Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND CALPIN, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO A. S. CAMPBELL COM- PANY, OF EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF'MASSAGHUSETTS AUTOMOBILE BODY AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING ABODY Application filed September 17, 1928. Serial No. 306,463.

those bodies in which the forward body pillars arising adjacent theicowl, or at least such port-ions thereof as extend above the belt line to support the roof, are made of metal, a construction utilized partlcularly to restrict the dimension of the corner assemblies lying in the field of the drivers v1s1on, preferably to a dimension not less than the distance between the eyes as described in the Emond Patent, No. 1,622,098, March 22, 1927. y

The invention will be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawmgs wherein spective of 'a'partly completed automobile body, the left hand or h gh corner being shown, and with'a part displaced; Fig. 2 is a section through the front of the vehicle looking toward the inner side of the body pillar shown in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the mam portion or body of said pillar detached;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a finishing section which completes the contour of the uillar' Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5- 5 of 2: J Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of 1' 1g. 5 Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the body portion of a body pillar for a vehicle hav ng a swinging windshield, the nigh plllar being shown; I

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a cooperating detachable section for use therewlth,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, broken away per-' Fig. 9 is a side elevation of said section as seen from the nigh side;

Fig. 10 is a similar side elevation of the body portion of the pillar; and

Fig. 11 is a cross-section on a larger scale through said parts in-assembled position, in the plane of line 11-11 of Figs. 7 and 8.

In order expeditiously to disclose my invention, I shall first describe the structural elements utilized in the illustrative embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6 and thereafter will indicate the novel method of body building which may be practiced in connection with their use. Referring therefore to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, I have there shown a con.

struction adapted for use in an'automobile of composite construction having a windshield confined in an upright plane, for example, a vertically sliding as distinguished from a swinging windshield. The standing body pillar or at least that portion thereof which pertains to the upper portion or top of the body above the belt line is constructed of metal, and is herein shown as ,comprising a main member or body of suitable tough metal, preferably a drop forging, comprising a substantial, transverse web 11, the lower portion of which extends downwardly at 13 and is incorporated with the framework of the vehicle below the belt, herein by being secured to the rear face of the upright frame member 15 at the cowl. Extending inwardly from this web there may. be provided an arm 17 to be secured to'the cowl bar 19. Preferably the forging is provided at the belt with the boxlike reinforcement 21 which may also be utilized to providea mortise for the leaves of the door hinge. At the upper end suitable arms 23 and25 are provided for securing it to the .framing members of the roof, herein respectively the longitudinal side-rail 27 and the transverse front rail 29 forming the front wall of a header into which the windshield the-web and for other purposes which will appear, it may be provided on its forward face (see Figs. 3 and 5) with an integral-rib 31 which may merge into the box-like reinforcement 21 and which gives the upper portion of the pillar a T section.

' The exterior contour of the pillar as a whole and preferably finished surfaces thereembodiment of the invention shown (see Fig.

of which are exteriorly exposed in the finished vehicle are provided for by a separable member 35 adapted to fit over and be detachably secured to the body member just described, and this separable member preferably takes the form of an aluminum die-casting. In the 5) the die-casting 35 is adapted to overlie the forward end ofthe rib 33 and to fit into and fill the rabbet defined on the'outer side between this rib and the body of the web 11, and

it -may extendsomewhat beyond the-outer edgeof the web to provide a rabbet 37 to receive the overlap flange of a door closing against the pillar. V The die-casting is also rovided with a flange 39 extending inwardy and adapted to oppose the inner .portion of the web 11 and define therewith a channel 1 posed in the finished job are provided'by the die-casting 35. This is made of any suitable contour as dictated by the design of the ve hicle. Thus, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, it

is provided with a suitable foot portion 43 following the lines of the'cowl and a suitable head 45 harmonizing with the top of the vehicle and is given such curvilinear outline or paneled surface as maybe desirable. In the drawing (Fig. 4) the enlarged portions at the top and bottom of the post have been shown cored out. The foot 43 may over-lie the cowl panel 47 as shown in Fig. 2.

The die-cast section 35 is suitably secured tothe forged body of the post,.preferably (see Fig. 5) by means of screws 49 entering through the web 11 of the die-cast member from the back and tapping into the cast member 35 without intersecting the'exposedsurfaces thereof, thus providing a particularly neat finish. To aid in relatively positioning theparts, one of the members, such as the diecast section 35 (see Fig. 6) may be provided with small protuberances 51 adapted to enter suitable recesses 53 in the other section, herein in the forward face of the rib 33 (see Fig. 1.)

, A construction such as that exemplified by Figs. 1 to 6 provides for a method of assembly ofthe body having'marked advantages. Thus referring to,Fig. 1, the body may be completely framed with the forged body 11 of the pillar secured in position and the roof hung and permanently secured thereto as indicated graphically in Fig. 1 by the showing of the roof rails 27 and .29. The cowl panel 47 may then be applied, shaped into form about the cowlframe and nailed in position ther 'eon,

its edge being presented to the front face of the forging, as seen in Fig. 1. Then, without any disassembling operations, the separable section 35 may be set against the front face of the forging 11 by a simple movement of approach in a substantially horizontalplane, as will readily be understood from Fig. 1, setting in between the cowl and the roof, and is easily secured in position by the screws 49. The foot portion '43 will overlie the edge of the cowl panel 47 at the front face of the forging and cover up the rough joint andthe nails 55 which fasten the panel down.

The joint and its; surface provided by the method of securing-the cowl panel is comparatively rough. The section 35 is light and wieldy and the lower end thereof at foot 43,

.which may conveniently be made slightly 57 between the margin of 'foot 43 and the cowl panel, which is desirable in that it prevents a crack in the paint from appearing at this point, which in the absence of such an open joint appears inevitable.

In contrast with such a method as de- 2 scribed in the case of a pillar embodying as an integral or effectively integral whole what herein forms the separable parts 11 and 35, the pillar would have to be removed from the framed-up body, leaving the roof pendulous, to permit application of the cowl panel and thereafter replaced." Moreover, such a one piece construction would be heavy and unwieldy not lending itself to easy alteration to provide for a' proper fit and any cutting or grinding to provide such a fit would have to be done on the face of a rabbet instead of across a terminal surface as in the,case of the member 35. (See Fig. 4.)

In Figs. 7 to 11, I have shown a construction adapted for use in a vehicle having a swinging windshield. In Figs. 7 and 10 there is shown the main section of the body pillar, preferably a drop forging,having'a web 111 continued as an anchor 113, and also having the box-like reinforcement 121 at the belt'and an arm 117 for anchorage to the cowl bar. At the upper end arms 123 and 125 are provided to be secured to the longitudinal and transverse frame members of the roof respectively. In the embodiment of the invention shown the upper portion of the pillar is provided with a rearwardly extending stiffening flange 126 at the inner side thereof providing, a door stop. The forward outer portion of -the web may be rabbeted as indicated at 128 (Fig. 11) to seat the body portion of the cooperating die-cast section 135 which projects forwardlyto define with the forward face of the web 111 the rabbet 136 to receive the windshield frame and may project outwardly beyond the" outer edge of the web to provide a rabbet 137 to receive the overlap flange of the door. As before, the

' die-cast section is given such exterior contour provides at the forward side suitable surfaces on which the lower portion of the diecast section may fit, as indicated in Figs. 7 to 10. The upper body portion of the post 111 may be offset forwardly as illustrated in Fig. 10 to provide a recess 150 which may receive the leaves of the top hinge of the door in alignment with the leaves of the middle hinge which are received in the box at 121 (preferably in such manner that both leaves of the hinge are disposed forwardly of the crack of the door) and the forward side of the offset 150 provides positioning surfaces cooperating with suitable-hollow surfaces on the rear face of the upperend portion 145 of the diecast section.

Obviously the description already given of the preferred method of incorporating the structure of Figs. 1 to 6 in the body and the citation of some advantages of such a method apply to the construction .of Figs. 7 toll.

In describing the modification of Figs. 7 to 11, I have designated the parts corresponding generally to parts-in the modification of Figs. 1 to 6 by the number applied as a numeral to said latter parts increased by 100. Thus, in

the modification of Figs. 1 to 6 the die-cast section is 35 and in the modification of Figs. .7 to 11 it is 135.

As the removable section may be separated bodily and by a simple lifting off movement, it is convenient to house the piping for the windshield wiper 59 in Fig. 5 and 159 in Fig. 11, in a suitable groove, 61 and 161 respectively, between opposed facesof the two sections, and, as well illustrated in Fig. 8, suitable passages, as 163 and 165, may be formed as a continuation of this groove to permit the piping to be concealed through substantially its entire length. This arrangement is particularly desirable since. if for any reason access to the piping mustbe had, the major portion of the piping is directly exposed when the die-cast section is removed, and to remove it or replace it, it need be threaded only .throughshort passages, such as 163 and 165.

removed and the windshield inserted from the front and secured by said sectionsm alignment with 1ts berth 1n the header ad acent the roof. It will be noted that in this modification a sliding windshield is provided for while a substaniial and unbroken body of tough metal securely incorporated with the frameworkvof the. vehicle is found in the web 11.

In both the modifications described, whether for a sliding windshield or'a swing-- ing windshield, the exposed surfa'ces of the post as a whole are provided for by the diecast section 35 or135. Thus, the body portion of the post embodying theweb 11 or 111 may be made of a forging or similar metal which is tough and strong but which under the circumstances will .not require any expensive machining or similar finishing but may be incorporated in relatively rough shape into the job. The removable section may be die-cast immediately and cheaply to final form and need not be relied uponfor strength, and as it comes from the mold is ready to be painted without any costly finish-' ing operations. The body portion or drop forging of the pillar may be made standard for a wide variety of cars and thus but one set of expensive dies will be required. The style effect may be changed by associating with this drop-forged body an easily made die-cast finishing piece which gives the desired exterior contour to the pillar as a whole and which preferably in itself provides the entireexposed surface of the finished job.

I have described. in detail the illustrative embodiments of my invention shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings. Obviously the construction may be widely varied without departing fromthe principles of the invention and what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I shall ex press in detail in the following claims.

Claims:

1. The method of constructing automobile bodies which comprises constructing the body frame including top supporting body pillars arising adjacent the cowl and having the roof hung and permanently secured thereto, securing in position a cowl panel with edges presented. adjacent the front of said pillars and then assembling with the pillars by a movement of approach in substantially a horizontal plane contour-completing sections having base portions to overlie said panel adjacent the pillars and mechanically securing such sections to the pillars.

2. The method of constructing automobile bodies which comprises constructing the body frame including top supporting body pillars arising adjacent the cowl and having the roof hung and permanently secured thereto, securing in position a cowl panel with edges presented adjacent the front of said pillars, seating against exteriorly presented surfaces of said pillars contour-completing sections having base portions to overlie said panel adjacent the pillars and securing said section against said surfaces.

3. In a vehicle of the closed type a forward body pillar comprising a body of tough metal im-orporated with the framework of the vehicle below the belt and with theroof, said body having a seat at its exterior face, and a member of varied -cross section defining the exterior contour of the complete pillar and having an inherent self-maintaining shape fitting on said seat by a movement of lateral approach and mechanical fastening device's detachably securing it against the seat.

4. I11 a vehicle of the closed type a forward body pillar comprising a body of tough metal incorporated with the framework of the vehicle below the belt and with the framework of the roof, said body having a seat at its exterior face, a: contour-giving section havlng an inherent, self-maintaining shape received against said seat, the surfaces of said section providing the exteriorly exposed surfaces of the post as a whole and mechanical fastening devices securing said section thereagainst.

5. In a vehicle of the closed type a forward body pillar comprising a body of tough metal incorporated with theframework of the vehicle below the belt and with the framework of the roof, said body having a seat at its extcrior face, a contour-giving section having an inherent, self-maintaining shape received against said seat by a movement of lateral approach, the surfaces of said section pr-ovlding the exteriorly exposed surfaces of the pillar as a whole, the cross-section of-said contourgiving section being such as to provlde 1n the assembly by cooperation with said body a door overlap rabbet and a windshield jamb fran'ie and mechanical fastening devlces securing said section thereagainst.

6. In a vehicle of the closed type a forward body pillar comprising a body of tough metal incorporated with the framework of the vehicle below the belt and with the framework i offhe roof, said body having a seat at its extcrior face, a contour-glvlng sect on having an inherent, self-maintaining shape received against said seat bv a movement of lateral approach, the surfaces of sand section providing the exteriorly exposed surfaces of the pi Ila r as a whole, and means for securing said section to its seat comprising fastening devices entered through said body from the rear and engaging saidsection without intersecting the exposed surfaces thereof.

7. Ina vehicle of the closed'type a topsupporting pillar comprising a body of tough metal incorporated with'the framework of the vehicle below the belt and with the framework of the roof,.and a section of inherent self-maintaining shape removably fitted thereagainst at the outer forward corner thereof, said parts when assembled defining between them a bore for piping e up a windshield wiper, said section comp ting the exterior contour of the pillar.

-8. In a vehicle of the closed type a topsupporting pillar comprising a body of'tough metal incorporated with the framework of the vehicle below the belt and with the framework of the roof and a die-cast section secured thereto and completing the contour of the pillar, the exposed surfaces ofthe pillar being surfaces of said die-cast section.

9. In a vehicle of the closed type a'topsupporting pillar comprising a metal body incorporated with the framework of the vehicle below the belt and with the framework of the roof, said body having a web and aforward ly projecting reinforcing rib defining rabing the edge of a windshield, and a section completing the contour of said pillar fitting the outer rabbet and overlying the forward edge of said rib, the surfaces of said section providing the exteriorly exposed surfaces of the pillar as a whole.

10. In a vehicle of the closed type a topsupportingpillar comprising a metal body having a web and a forwardly projecting reinforcing rib defining rabbets at its sides, that at theinner side receiving the edge of a windshield, and a section removably secured to bets at its sides, that at the inner side recei'vsaid body tocomplete the contour of the pillar, said section fitting the outer rabbet and having a flange overlying the forward edge of said rib and extending beyond the same to confine the windshield in the inner rabbet, the surfaces of said section providing the exteriorly exposed surfaces of the pillar as a whole.

11; In a vehicle of the closed type a topsupporting pillar comprising a body of tough metal presenting a forwardly facing recess having end and side surfaces and a section completing the contour of the pillar comprising a rigid member having a part to enter said recess and seat against the surfaces thereof, the surfaces of said section providing the exteriorly exposed surfaces of the pillar as a whole and mechanical fastening devices for securing the section to the said body.

12. In a vehicle of the closed type having a windshield confined in an upright plane, corner'pillars having forwardly facing rabbets receiving the edges of said windshield and removable sections having flanges overlying the edges of the windshield and confining them in said flanges, said sections defining teriorl'y exposed surfaces of the pillar as a whole, and means for securing said parts together.

14. In avehicle of the-closed type a topsupporting pillar comprising a metal'body, a section removably fitted at the outer forward corner thereof and'having an inw'ardl projecting flange to overlie a wmdshiel and confine it against said body, said section completing the exterior contour of the pillar and providing the exteriorly exposed surfaces of the pillar as a whole.

15. In a vehicle of the closed t pe a topsupporting pillar comprisinga b0 y of tough metal incorporated with the framework of the vehicle below the belt and with the framework of the roof; said body presenting a forwardly facing seat and a section completing the contour. ofthe pillar comprising a rigidf member having a part cooperating with said.

.seat to oe ositioned thereby, on assembly therewith y' av movement of lateral approach, the surfaeesof sa'id section roviding I the exteriorly exposed-surfaces'o the pillar as a whole, and means for securing said section-to its seat. I

16.- In a vehicle of the closed type compris ing a cowl, a pillar arising adjacent thereto l cross section to glve the contour to the com-' comprisin ody of metal incorporated a with'the framework of the vehicle and extending from below thecowl to the roof and a section overlying the cowl and of varied pleted pillar between the cowl and' roof, said section adapted to be seated against said body Q i by a movement, of approach substantially in .y a horizontal direction and fastening devices for removablysecuring .said- "section seated against said body.

In testimony'whereof,"I' have signed my I name to this specification;

0ND CALI-IN. 

